As I slowly unravel my adventure with fear and work to understand the root of it in my life, I know a few foundational things worth repeating. Some fear is good. Look at this guy’s teeth for goodness sakes. Sheesh! Be afraid of this guy’s power. Respect it. Take proper precautions. But whatever you do, don’t skip the safari. Don’t give up the opportunity to get close enough to gaze at his magnificence and beauty. To marvel at his ways. Don’t stay so far away from awe-so-me moments, even scary callings, that you clog up the opportunity for awe.

Life is an AWE-SO-ME experience — a word that is said with less bravado and with more of a breathless question… awe, so me? Like David who questions the great AWE… When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Can you hear it? Can you hear David’s heart. Hey maker of all things that bring AWE… so me?

AWE God, SO You did that for ME?

AWE God, SO You made that for ME?

AWE God, SO You love ME?

AWE-SO-ME God?

Yes you! He wants to fill us with His awe and wonder. But fear? It wants to move you away from AWE. It scoots you back a few inches at a time. Makes you so afraid you retreat just a little bit. Intimidates you into thinking there is danger where there is not. It nudges you off the safari to the glass enclosure at the zoo or the video play back or the magazine expose. It makes you a spectator more than a participant. It steals your joy. If you’re not careful, it will steal your life. It has taken a large part of mine.

Sitting in the presence of a roaring lion, I could feel scripture’s admonition about the nature of evil — like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I don’t think I could feel the power in that verse more than I did sitting in front of that open mouthed lion. Awe God, that’s a magnificent description of the power of fear over a life. It devours opportunities, moments, options, possibilities. It puts you on the side lines. It diminishes awe. It answers the question AWE-SO-ME? with a growl rather than the embrace of a lifetime.